JPH0579358A - Throttle opening control device and vehicle fixed speed running device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a throttle opening control device which, during chopping of current to the motor, enables the throttle opening to be quickly closed by means of a spring in the throttle section. CONSTITUTION:The throttle opening control device is composed of a low detent torque motor 1, a no-clutch gear portion 4, an actuator 5 consisting of a mechanism for adjusting the throttle opening directly or indirectly, a spring 8 for imparting a torque so as to cause the throttle valve to be moved in its totally closed direction, and a driving circuit constructed of switching elements 2-a, to, 2-d for driving the electric current flowing in the motor and diodes 20-a, to, 20-d, disposed in parallel with coils of the motor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle constant speed traveling device, and more particularly to a throttle opening control device for automatically controlling a throttle opening of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a throttle opening control device is one for automatically controlling a throttle opening according to a purpose based on an electric signal without a driver operating an accelerator pedal. Used in equipment and traction control.

For the purpose of controlling the throttle opening, a spring is always incorporated in the throttle mechanism to apply a load to the throttle opening toward the fully closed direction for safety. As a power source for controlling the throttle opening, there are a vacuum actuator that uses engine negative pressure and a motor type, but recently, a motor type actuator has been increasing due to reasons such as controllability. An example of a conventional throttle opening control device is shown in FIG. In a motor type throttle opening control device, when the throttle opening control is stopped and the throttle opening is closed, an electromagnetic clutch is used to release the restraint of the movable part of the actuator, and the spring force of the throttle part is removed. The throttle opening is closed by. As shown in FIG. 7, the conventional throttle opening control device requires a motor unit, a gear unit, and a clutch unit in the actuator mechanism, and the function of this clutch unit is extremely reliable for ensuring the safety of vehicle operation. Sex is required. Also, if this clutch is abolished, even if the motor current supply is stopped, when the motor rotates in the direction to close the throttle opening, the motor becomes a generator and becomes an electromagnetic brake, and the closing operation of the throttle opening is delayed. Become.

[0004]

In the conventional throttle opening degree control device, the clutch mechanism is required and the operation of the mechanism is required to have high reliability, so that the structure of the actuator becomes complicated. Also, if this clutch part is tried to be removed, when the motor current supply is stopped and the motor rotates in the direction in which the throttle opening is closed, the motor becomes a generator and becomes an electromagnetic brake, and until the throttle opening is closed. There is a problem that the operation time becomes long.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention makes it possible to quickly close the throttle opening by the spring of the throttle portion when the current supply to the motor is stopped by a mechanism without a clutch. An object is to provide a throttle opening control device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises an actuator and a drive circuit, wherein the actuator is a gear portion having no clutch and a throttle for directly or indirectly adjusting a throttle opening degree. An opening adjustment mechanism, a fully-closed direction torque applying means for giving a torque so that the throttle valve moves in the fully-closed direction, and a holding torque (hereinafter referred to as detent torque) in a state in which no current flows.
Is composed of a motor having a torque smaller than the torque acting in the closing direction of the throttle valve, and the drive circuit includes a switching element for controlling a current flowing through the motor and a diode provided in parallel with the coil of the motor. Is a throttle opening control device.

Further, a vehicle speed detecting device for detecting the actual vehicle speed V (t) of the vehicle, an actuator for adjusting the vehicle speed through a throttle valve, and a target vehicle speed Vset according to the driver's intention.
Target speed setting device for setting the constant speed running device, a constant speed running command device for starting and releasing the constant speed running device, and an actual vehicle speed V of the vehicle.
(t) and a controller that determines the target opening degree of the actuator so that the target vehicle speed Vset coincides with each other, and a drive circuit that drives the actuator. The actuator directly or indirectly includes a gear unit having no clutch. Throttle opening adjustment mechanism to adjust the throttle opening,
The fully closed direction torque applying means for applying a torque so that the throttle valve moves in the fully closed direction, and a motor having a detent torque smaller than the torque acting in the direction of closing the throttle valve, and the drive circuit includes: A constant speed traveling device for a vehicle, comprising: a switching element for controlling a flowing current; and a diode provided in parallel with a coil of the motor.

Further, the motor is characterized by being a variable reluctance type stepping motor, and the motor is characterized by being a variable reluctance type stepping motor.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a switch which is cut off by the brake of the vehicle is provided in the power supply section of the motor, and the switching element of the drive circuit is M.
It is characterized by being an OSFET.

[0010]

With the above structure, when the current supply to the motor is stopped when the throttle opening control operation is released, even if the motor functions as a generator, the electromagnetic brake does not become an electromagnetic brake, and the throttle mechanism section spring promptly opens the throttle. You can close the degree.

[0011]

EXAMPLES Details of the present invention will be described below with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a throttle opening control device of the first embodiment. The stepping motor 1 is a variable reluctance type (hereinafter abbreviated as VR type) stepping motor having an extremely small detent torque.
A unipolar drive circuit will be described. M0SFET (2-a to 2-d) is used as a switching element of the drive circuit, and a diode is connected in parallel with each coil portion of the stepping motor. The rotational displacement of the rotor 3 of the stepping motor is divided by the gear unit 4, and the displacement drives the throttle valve 6 via the accelerator wire 7 and the throttle mechanical unit 5 to control the throttle opening.

In the throttle mechanism section 5, a spring 8 is connected so that a force is applied in the direction in which the throttle opening is closed. When controlling the throttle opening, the throttle wire 7
Is a state of being pulled by the stepping motor 1, the gear portion 4 and the spring 8. The operation of the stepping motor at this time is not continuous rotation because of the usage method, but in many cases, starting and stopping are repeated and the rotation method is constantly reversed.
Moreover, the torque in one direction by the spring 8 is always applied from the outside. Therefore, the stepping motor needs a torque to overcome the external force of the spring 8 even when the direction is reversed. As a result of the experiment, the diode of the drive circuit shown in FIG. 1 works effectively. The diodes 20-a to 20-d not only absorb the surge voltage generated immediately after the switching elements 2-a to 2-d are turned off, but also suppress the sudden decrease in the current flowing to the stepping motor 1, so that the momentary It is possible to prevent a decrease in the holding torque, and to repeatedly start, stop, and reverse the direction of the stepping motor without losing the torque from the outside.

Next, the operation when releasing the control of the throttle opening will be described. Either shut off the power supply commonly connected to the stepping motor or turn off all four MOSFETs. As a result, the current flowing through the stepping motor 1 becomes zero. At this time, a force is applied to the throttle wire 7 by the spring 8 in the direction of closing the throttle opening. On the other hand, since the VR type stepping motor has a very small detent torque and does not generate electric power by the rotation of the rotor part by the external force, as a result, the throttle wire 7 extends and the throttle opening is immediately closed. The function of releasing the throttle opening control is realized. 3 is a side view of the stepping motor actuator used in this embodiment, FIG. 4 is a front view of the stepping motor actuator used in this embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a stepping motor actuator used in this embodiment. The output torque of the stepping motor used in this embodiment is 500 gcm or more (power supply voltage 12 V, excitation speed
500PPS, drive 2.88 degrees in the opposite direction every 0.72 seconds and repeat stop), and detent torque is 40gcm or less. Also,
An external view of the motor used in this embodiment is shown in FIG.

Since the operation for releasing the control of the throttle opening may be performed by cutting off the power supply to the motor, for example, if the power supply to the motor is cut off when the brake is depressed, fail safe. It is effective.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Stepping motor with extremely small detent torque 1
And the gear part 4 without a clutch as an actuator
By controlling the throttle valve with the spring 8 and the accelerator wire 7, the following effects are produced.

Since there is no clutch, there is no slippage between the motor and the drive part, and by counting the number of steps of the excitation pulse of the stepping motor, highly accurate throttle opening position management without using a throttle opening sensor ( Position control) can be performed.

Since there is no clutch, the control circuit itself is simplified and the fail-safe circuit is simplified.

Since there is no clutch, the structure is simplified,
The efficiency can be improved in the assembly process, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts.

In this embodiment, the spring 8 applies a force in the direction to close the throttle opening so that the throttle valve is fully closed immediately. Any means may be used as long as it gives a torque, and the means is not limited to the spring 8 and may be another means (for example, a magnet that gives a torque in the opposite direction).

Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the throttle opening control device of the first embodiment is applied to a vehicle constant speed traveling device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the second embodiment. Since the stepping motor and the drive circuit are the same as those in FIG. 1, the description thereof will be omitted.

Vehicle speed detection device 11 for detecting the actual vehicle speed of the vehicle
And a target vehicle speed setting device 12 for setting a target vehicle speed according to the driver's intention, inputting start / release of the constant speed traveling device and acceleration / deceleration of the target vehicle speed, and an actuator 13 including the stepping motor 1 and the gear portion 4. A control input 3 to the actuator based on the actual vehicle speed of the vehicle and the target vehicle speed.
The controller 19 that outputs 1 and the throttle mechanism 15 that transmits the larger one of the actuator displacement 36 and the accelerator opening 40 to the throttle opening are provided. When the vehicle is not traveling at a constant speed, the accelerator opening 40 becomes the throttle opening 32. It is transmitted.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the constant speed traveling command signal 30 is input from the constant speed traveling command device 14 which outputs the constant speed traveling start signal, the controller 19
Detects the actual vehicle speed signal 35 by the vehicle speed detection device 11 and the target vehicle speed 29 set by the target vehicle speed setting device 12, and outputs the target control angle 31 to the actuator 13 so that the target vehicle speed 29 and the actual vehicle speed 35 match. Through 17, the constant speed traveling control that makes the vehicle speed constant is realized.

The throttle mechanism is configured so that the larger of the actuator displacement and the accelerator opening degree by the driver operation is transmitted to the throttle valve. Therefore, when the constant speed traveling is released, the actuator displacement becomes zero immediately as in the first embodiment, and the throttle opening is determined by the accelerator opening by the driver's operation.

Although the MOSFET is used as the switching element in this embodiment, the element is not limited to the MOSFET, and other elements such as a transistor and an analog switch may be used. Further, although the stepping motor is used as the motor in the present embodiment, this is not limited to the stepping motor, and if the detent torque is small and the output torque meets the specifications, for example, a DC motor or the like may be used. Good.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since a gear without a clutch is used as a constituent element of the actuator 13, clutch control is not required when the constant speed traveling is released, and the processing in the controller is simplified. Therefore, the drive circuit and the fail-safe circuit can be simplified. In terms of structure, the solenoid valve of the clutch is not required, the number of wirings is small, and the number of other parts is small. Therefore, the reliability of the stopping operation is significantly improved as compared with the conventional one.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, a motor having a low detent torque, a gear portion having no clutch, an actuator including a mechanism for directly or indirectly adjusting the throttle opening, and a motor flowing through the motor. By configuring a throttle opening control device from a switching element that drives a current and a diode that is inserted in parallel with the coil of the motor, even if a torque from the outside is always applied by a spring during driving, the torque does not go into the external torque. It is possible to start, stop and reverse direction. Further, when the throttle opening control is stopped such as when the constant speed traveling is canceled, the detent torque is small, and therefore the external spring drives the throttle opening quickly in a direction to close. As a result, the throttle opening control device or the actuator of the constant speed traveling device can be configured without using a clutch, the number of parts can be reduced from the conventional one, and a highly reliable throttle opening control device or the constant speed traveling device can be provided. Actuator can be provided and its effect is great.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a throttle opening control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a vehicle constant speed traveling device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a stepping motor actuator used in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a stepping motor actuator used in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a stepping motor actuator used in this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an external view of a stepping motor used in this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an actuator including a clutch mechanism, a stepping motor, and a gear unit used in a conventional vehicle constant-speed traveling device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Stepping motor 2 Motor drive circuit 3 Rotor 4 Gear part 5 Throttle mechanism part 6 Throttle valve 7 Throttle wire 8 Spring 9 Intake pipe 11 Vehicle speed detection device 12 Target vehicle speed setting device 13 Actuator 14 Constant speed command device 15 Throttle mechanism part 16 Engine 17 Body 19 Controller

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An actuator and a drive circuit, wherein the actuator includes a gear portion having no clutch, a throttle opening adjustment mechanism for adjusting the throttle opening directly or indirectly, and a throttle valve moving in a fully closing direction. A torque applying means for fully closing the motor and a holding torque in a state in which no current flows are smaller than a torque acting in a closing direction of the throttle valve, and the drive circuit supplies the current flowing through the motor. A throttle opening control device comprising a switching element to be controlled and a diode provided in parallel with a coil of the motor. 2. A vehicle speed detection device for detecting an actual vehicle speed V (t) of a vehicle, an actuator for adjusting the vehicle speed through a throttle valve, a target vehicle speed setting device for setting a target vehicle speed Vset according to a driver's intention, and a constant speed. A constant-speed traveling command device that starts and releases the traveling device, a controller that determines the target opening degree of the actuator so that the actual vehicle speed V (t) of the vehicle and the target vehicle speed Vset, and the actuator are driven. The actuator comprises a drive circuit, a gear unit without a clutch, a throttle opening adjustment mechanism for adjusting the throttle opening directly or indirectly, and a fully closed valve that applies torque so that the throttle valve moves in the fully closed direction. A directional torque applying means and a motor that has a holding torque in a state in which no current flows are smaller than a torque that acts in the direction of closing the throttle valve. The driving circuit includes a switching element for controlling a current flowing through the motor, the vehicle constant speed running apparatus characterized by comprising a diode provided in parallel to the coil of the motor. 3. The throttle opening control device according to claim 1, wherein the motor is a variable reluctance type stepping motor. 4. The constant speed traveling device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the motor is a variable reluctance type stepping motor. 5. The constant speed traveling device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a switch that is cut off by a brake of the vehicle is provided in a power supply section of the motor. 6. The switching element of the drive circuit is MOSFE
The throttle opening control device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the throttle opening control device is T. 7. The switching element of the drive circuit is MOSFE.
The constant speed traveling device for a vehicle according to claim 2, 4 or 5, wherein T is T.